Title: Miracle
Author: Caroline
Email: caroline_114@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: No money is being made, don't sue!
Category: Michael/Maria mostly, but a tad M/L
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Michael realizes he could have been wrong about his relationship with Maria, but does she still want him?

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Chapter Four
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'After hours of deep thought
I came to the conclusion
your just not meant to be with me
every time is a mistake
Suffering under my smile
I'd be better off alone for awhile
Crying for myself
Cause I don't belong here
your so different from me
Well I want to be with you
but you make it so hard' (I think the song goes scarily well :p)

Michael walked briskly into the Crashdown where he spotted Max and Isabel sitting in a booth. "So you're sure she's not here?" He asked as he slid into the booth on Max's side.

Max looked up at Michael just realizing he was standing there. "Yeah her shift doesn't start for 2 hours. Why though? I mean I thought you were thinking about getting back together? Did something happen?" Max had thought for the first time Michael could be happy being in a decent relationship with someone who liked him and knew who he really was.

Isabel hit realization. "Michael, you were thinking of getting back with Maria? I mean it's bad enough we have Max swooning over Liz's every move, why do you have to go off and do the same? Michael!" Isabel was whining again. Max and Michael thought she whined a lot because of her lack of a relationship, but she did have Alex walking after her like a puppy. But she still kept that distance thing going.

Michael raised his hands up in order to stop Isabel from talking. "Don't worry Isabel, me and Maria aren't getting back together. I doubt we'll ever even see each other again, at least not willingly. Let's just say, never mind, just accept that fact. Listen coming here was a mistake I should go." He grabbed his coat from his side and got up from the booth.

"Michael, come here for a minute." Max got up too and walked him into the corner of the Crashdown. "I just wanted to tell you away from Isabel that if you like Maria, then I wouldn't her so quickly."

"Who said I ditched her, maybe she ditched me, eh?" Michael was beginning to get defensive and edgy.

"Alright man, all I'm saying is that if she's worth it, then give her time to come around. I'll see-ya." Max lightly whacked him on the shoulder and walked back to finish his lunch with his sister.

Isabel gave her brother a look. "What was that all about?" Isabel felt slightly hurt she wasn't included.

Max smiled. "Nothing, just helping him out a little bit. You know you could have been a little more supportive for him. Didn't you see how distraught he looked? I don't think I've ever seen him this disturbed." Max saw Isabel nod her head in agreement and in defeat.

'I don't want you to say
That it's all going to be ok
And I don't belong here
You're so different from me
but I want to be with you
but you make it so hard
Don't try to hold my hand
Don't try to understand
Don't tell your lies
I know them all...by now'

Michael was breathing in the fresh air of the outside when ::smack:: he hit someone. He looked up to see Maria. He didn't know whether to be happy or to just run away. "Sorry" He said quietly before starting to walk again.

"Michael, wait. I don't want things to be like this, all distant and everything." She bit her lip.

He finally looked her in the eye. "Well then if you don't want things to be distant between us you wouldn't have gotten all defensive at the cave." He told her, reverting to his old characteristics around her.

She gave him a look. "Me? You're the one who was telling me all this stuff that is so unlike you. What did you expect for me to just run right into your arms and take you back? No it doesn't work that way Michael. How the hell was I suppose to know you were telling me the truth? If you ever were telling me the truth. I still don't know yet." Once again Maria's anger began to surface and started getting the better of her temper.

"Are you blind or something? Of course I was telling the truth! You think I would lie about something like that. I don't show my feelings very often, but when I do, it's never a lie. You know what, taking you out there was a mistake, telling you all of them was a mistake. I regret doing it completely." Michael huffed and regained his balance. He felt like he was going to tumble over from all the lies he was saying.

Maria couldn't keep the tears from her eyes anymore. They strolled freely down her eyes and she ran. As fast as her feet would carry her she just ran from Michael. She knew he was a total jerk sometimes, but taking back saying that he liked her was cruel. Nobody had ever told her they liked her, not like that anyways. She ran till she got to end of the street. Then she turned the corner and fell down against the brick building crying some more.

Michael just kind of stood there after she ran. Little did he or Maria know they were standing right in front of a Crashdown Cafe window. It happened to be near where Isabel and Max were eating so they got to see the whole thing. They couldn't hear them, but they saw them.

Once Maria left running and crying Max went out there to go talk to Michael. "Well go!" He told him.

Michael looked at him with confusion. "Go where?"

Max pointed to where Maria had run. "Go after her!" He saw Michael take one look at him then he sprinted off to find her.

Michael ran till he reached a corner. He was about to run down the alley when he saw Maria sitting right below him. He held his hand out for her to pull her up. She took it and hoisted herself to stand up.

She tried to wipe some of the tears off of her cheek hoping Michael wouldn't notice she had been totally sobbing.

Michael let out a deep breath. "You know sometimes I let my anger speak for me, and when that happens, it's not a good thing." He smiled as he tried to lighten the mood.

She gave a weak smile. "Yeah I noticed that. Look Michael, if there is something between us still, which I hope there is, I just don't want you to toss me aside like you did before. Because it hurts me beyond belief and I just need to know that you're not going to do that again."

He took her hand in his. "Well as tempting as it is to toss you aside every few weeks, I guess that I'll keep you around for awhile." Success he had gotten her to a full fledged smile.

She playfully hit him in the arm. "You are terrible. But I think I can get past the fact that your a big dork."

"So you want to go get something to eat or something?" He wasn't used to asking girls out, he felt sort of awkward doing it. Maria nodded at him, smiling. Michael put his arm around her shoulder protectively. Maria put her arm around his waist, just loving having him near. Max was right, it was totally worth it.

'Don't tell your lies
We've been over this
a hundred times
You'

~*~ The End ~*~

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